Compared with the previous month, retail trade sales grew 1.8% in March, in Brazil, according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). The sector posted a 2.3% rise in nominal revenues (absolute terms).
According to the Monthly Survey of Trade, seven out of ten activities surveyed recorded growth in sales volume, in the series with figures seasonally adjusted for March.
Sectors that had a positive impact on the result were textiles, clothing and shoes, growth of 6.1%; hypermarkets, supermarkets, foodstuffs, beverage and tobacco (3.3%); fuels and lubricants (1.7%); furniture and household appliances (1.6%); pharmaceutical, medical, orthopaedic, perfumery and cosmetic products (1.4%); construction material (1.2%) and vehicles and motorcycles, parts and accessories (0.2%).
On the other hand, reduction in sales volume was recorded for books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-1.3%); other articles of personal and household use (-2.1%) and equipment and material for offices, computers and communication (-5.6%).
Retail trade grew 11% in Brazil in the first two months of this year compared with the same period last year. The figures were taken from the Serasa Trade Activity Indicator.
Specialized retail for products such as electric and electronic devices, vehicles and construction material recorded a 12.5% expansion during the period. Hypermarket and supermarket sales grew 9% using the same basis for comparison.
Sales also saw a 10.9% expansion in the month of February in comparison with the same month of 2007. Sales volumes for hypermarkets, supermarkets, and retail food and beverage increased 9.2%, and specialized retail posted a 12.5% growth.
The indicators, according to technicians at Serasa, reflect the expansion of credit supply, longer term financing, insolvency under control, growth of formal employment and of total wages paid.
ABr
